52 Ancestors: #5 Daniel S. Woodward

We should not simply collect records that we think belong to our ancestors (or potential ancestors) and squirrel them away in a box, file cabinet, or whatever. It is so important that we put every one of those documents through the wringer and analysis, analysis, analysis. I learned my lesson the hard way.

Of course the fact that during the past twenty years I’ve spent most of my research hours on historical and genealogy projects that relate to the south of the Mason Dixon line, Like the cobbler whose children have no shoes, my personal genealogical research has been very space.

In order to better understand my progress (or lack thereof) on my research relating to my 2nd great grandfather, Daniel S. Woodward, I’ve gone through my files and really looked at the documents I have on file. Almost immediately I saw things that completed escaped under the radar screen during past research endeavors.

Daniel S. Woodward was born about 1804 (probably in New Hampshire), the son of Jesse Woodward and Bashabe Stevens. [1] Daniel married, first, in Salisbury, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, on 8 July 1828,[2] Dorcas Adams,[3] daughter of Enoch Adams and Elizabeth Russell. Daniel married, second, Lucy (Spaulding Staples) in Franklin, New Hampshire, on 14 June 1879.[4]

Dorcas Adams was born 19 July 1797 or 1796[5] probably in the area of Salisbury, New Hampshire. Dorcas Adams was killed in Hill, New Hampshire, from falling debris of a barn when a strong storm caused the barn to collapse.[6]

Daniel died 18 January 1892, Intestate, and his widow, Lucy, choose George R. Stone to administrate his estate.[7]

Oliver A. Woodward, a 24 years old stone Mason was residing with Daniel S. Woodward in 1850,[8] and appeared as the oldest child (third entry) prior to Daniels’s known children, Elisabeth, Hannah, Phebe, Dorcus, Stephen, Alvin, Dorcas, Frank, and Dinah. At first blush it would appear that Oliver was the older son of Daniel S. However, when we compare this census to the1840 census entry for the household of Daniel S. Woodward[9] there appears to be a problem.

Partial abstract of the Daniel S. Woodward household in the 1850 Census

Name

Age

Occupation

Probable age bracket in 1840

Daniel S. Woodward

54

Stone Mason

Dorcus Woodward

52

Oliver A. Woodward

24

Stone Mason

10 to 15

Elisabeth

22

10 to 15

Hannah

19

5 to 10

Phebe

18

5 to 10

Daniel R.

17

Stone Mason

5 to 10

Stephen

16

Stone Mason

5 to 10

Alvin

13

Under 5

Dorcus

11

Under 5

Francis [Frank]

6

[not yet born]

Dinah

11

Under 5

Partial abstract of the Daniel S. Woodward entry in 1840

Age Group

# of males

# of females

Under 5

1 [Alvin]

2 [Dorcus & Dinah]

5 & under 10

2 [Daniel R & Steven]

2 [Hannah & Phebe]

10 & under 15

1 [Elisabeth]

15 & under 20

20 & under 30

30 & under 40

1

40 & under 50

1

50 & under 60

60 & under 70

70 & under 80

80 & under 90

1

There seems to be some condtradictions between the two decennial census records. For instance, if Oliver is a son of Daniel S., and his age is somewhat correct in the 1850, then why isn’t he enumerated in Daniel’s household in 1840. Who is the 70 to 80 year old male in Daniel’s home in 1840? The first question is not easy to answer, but the second is, but indirectly. Enoch Adam (father-in-law of Daniel) was a Revolutionary Pensior [I’ll save discussion of Enoch for a future blog]. Although I have little evidence to date, I expect that Oliver was son of Kimball Woodward, supposed brother of Daniel. Kimball Woodward met his death by drowning in 1845. It is not unreasonable to assume that Daniel was training his apparent nephew, Oliver, to be a stone mason.

Date of conveyance: 1 November 1832; date recorded: 24 April 1834
Daniel S. Woodward purchased land in Salisbury, for consideration of $20 from James Johnson (both men were of Salisbury, Merrimack County).
Description: A certain piece of land lying in said Johnson [sic] Salisbury, it being a part of lot number forty one in the third range and is bounded as follows: Beginning at stake and Woodard stones standing eight feet north of the northwest corner of a house built by Joseph Webster, thence south ten rods to a stake & stones, thence east eight rods to stake and stones, thence north ten rods to stake & stones, and thence west eight rods to the first mentioned bounds to contain eight rods (Deed is to convey the premises as they were in 1828).
Signed: James Johnson
Witnesses: Joshua S. Bean and Benjamin Scribner proved the deed on 1 November 1832.[10]

Date of conveyance: 20 December 1838; date recorded 27 December 1838.
Ira Sweatt of Boscawen, yeoman, convey to Kimball Woodward, yeoman, also of Boscawen, for consideration of $485.
Description: land with buildings on the same where I now live situate in said Boscawen containing six acres be the same more or less and bounded easterly on Blackwater River southerly on land of Isaac T. Sweatt, westerly on a highway and northerly on land of Richard P. Shattuck reserving the same privilege to Silas Sweatt as is reserved in my deed from him, reference thereto being had….
Signed: Ira Sweatt
Witness: Moses Fellows and Hezh Fellows[11]

Date of conveyance: 7 April 1834; date recorded: 24 April 1834
Daniel S. Woodard sold to Kimbell Woodard, gentleman, (both of Salisbury, Merrimack Co., NH) for the sum of $40
Description: A certain piece of land lying in Salisbury, it being a part of lot No. forty one in the third range and is bounded as follows: beginning at stake and stones standing eight feet north of the northwest corner of a house built by Joseph Webster, thence south ten rods to a stake & stones, thence east eight rods to stake and stones, then north ten rods to stake & stones, and thence west eight rods to the first mentioned bounds to contain eighty rods same more or less.
Signed: Daniel S. Woodward (his mark)
Witnesses: Joshua S. Bean & Samuel Smith[12]

Date of conveyance 4 November 1839; date recorded 17 June 1840
Conveyance from John L. Eaton, yeoman, of Salisbury to Kimball Woodward, yeoman, of Boscawen, for consideration of $1,000.
Description: “…a certain piece of land situate in Salisbury aforesaid and bounded as follows. viz. Beginning at Boscawen line on the westerly side of mutton road so called & running on said road northerly one hundred and forty rods to a stake and stones: thence south one & a half degrees west, one hundred & ten & a half rods to a stake & stones thence south seventy five degrees west fifty-six rods to land owned by Pearce Fellows thence on said Fellows line southerly forty six rods to Boscawen line thence on said line easterly to the corner first mentioned containing seventy two & a half acres be the same more or less. Reserving the Saw Mill situate on the premises with the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging agreeably to an indenture & obligation made by me with Pearce Fellows of said Salisbury dated the twenty fourth day of January 1839 & Recorded in the Merrimack Records Lib. 57. Fol page 73[?] Reserving also a passage way for teams from the highway by the Saw mill to the land down beyond ~ …”
Lousy B. Eaton, wife of John L. Eaton relinquished her dower rights.
Signed: John L. Eaton and Lousy B. Eaton
Witnesses: Valentine Little and Stephen Dearborn[13]

Date of conveyance: 17 April 1841; date recorded: 27 April 1841
Daniel S. Woodward purchased property from Nathan Kilburn (both of Boscawen, Merrimack Co., NH) for $450.
Description: A certain tract or parcel of land situate in said Boscawen, containing twenty-five acres, be the same more or less, bounded as follows, viz. on the east by the highway leading from the end of Pleasant Street in Boscawen to the South road village in Salisbury, on the south by land of Benjamine Smith, on the west by land of Gailand Caleb, and on the north by the line of the town of Boscawen, excepting one acre of land now owned by Kimball Woodward, and as the same tract of land and building conveyed to me by said Kimball Woodward by deed dated the tenth day of February 1838.
Polly Kilburn, wife of Nathan signed, thus relinquishing her dower rights.
Signed: Nathan Kilborn and Polly O. Kilburn
Witnesses: John Fellows, James S. Fellows and proven by Hezh Fellows, Justice Peace[14]

Date of conveyance: 23 April 1844; date recorded: 25 June 1844.
William C. Little of Salisbury sold to Daniel S. Woodward of Boscawen for Eighty dollars
Description: a certain piece of land situated in Salisbury in said county of Merrimack being a part of lot numbered twenty one in the first range of Salisbury and bounded as follows, viz; on the west by the road and on the north east and south by land of Thomas[?]R. Little containing one and a half acre, be the same more or less, meaning to convey the same which was bequeathed to me by my grandmother, Mary Little, late of said Salisbury, deceased.
Signed: William C. Little
Witnesses: John Little and Joseph Hooper[15]

Date of conveyance: 13 November 1846; date recorded: 1 December 1846.
Bashabee Woodward of Lowell, Middlesex County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, widow, to Ezekiel Davis (also of Lowell) for consideration of one dollar and the kind attention and support of me by the said Ezekiel S. Davis since his intermarriage with my daughter Diana A. Woodward
Description: a certain piece of land with the buildings thereon, situated in Boscawen Merrimack Co., NH, containing one area be the same more or less bounded and described as follows: Beginning at the northeast corner of a piece of land conveyed to Kimball Woodward by Samuel D. Couch, it being the a part of the Enoch Gilbert farm, so called, lying on the west side by the road leading from the fourth New Hampshire Turnpike road in Salisbury to Pleasant Street in Boscawen, thence on said road southerly twenty rods, then westerly eight rods, thence northerly twenty rods on a line parallel with said road, and then easterly eight rods to the point of beginning containing one hundred sixty square rods more or less, being the same land conveyed to me by Kimball Woodward of said Boscawen by his deed dated 31 July 1837 and recorded in Merrimack Records Lib 52 Fol 26 to which said deed and record thereof reference may be made.
Signed Bashabee Woodward (her mark)
Witnesses: James Hopkins & Wm. F. Smith[16]

Date of conveyance: 15 June 1847
Nancy George, widow of True George of Salisbury, to Nancy Woodward for $150
Description: a certain tract of land situate in Boscawen in said county of Merrimack containing one acre by measure with a dwelling house, wood shed, and barn thereon and bounded as follows, beginning at a post & stone standing on the west side of the highway leading from Salisbury south road to Comser[?] Hill so called at the north east corner of said land, thence westerly along by the north side of said buildings and parallel with said house until it strikes a line parallel with the east side of barn standing on land of ?? Woodman & containing the same on the same
Signed: True George
Witnessed by: Nathan Smith and John Smith and proven 15 Jun 1847.[17]

Date of Conveyance: 6 May 1850; date recorded: 7 May 1850
Ezekiel S. Davis, of Lowell, Middlesex Co., Mass., to Bashabee Woodward, also of Lowell, for consideration of $100
Description: a certain tract of land with the building thereon situated in Boscawen in the county of Merrimack, containing one acre, described as follows: to wit beginning at the northeast corner of a piece of land conveyed to Kimball Woodward by Samuel D. Couch it being a part of the Enoch Gilbert farm so called lying on the west side of the road leading from the fourth New Hampshire Turnpike road in Salisbury to Pleasant Street in Boscawen, thence on said road southerly twenty rods, thence westerly eight rods, thence northerly twenty rods on a line parallel with said road, thence easterly eight rods to the point of the beginning containing one hundred and sixty square rods more or less, being the same convey to Bashabee Woodward by Kimball Woodward by deed dated 31 July 1837 and recorded in Merrimack Register Lib 53 Fol 26 and afterwards conveyed to me by said Bashabee by deed dated 30 Nov 1846 and recorded in Merrimac Records Lib 83 Fol 190.
Signed: Ezekiel S. Davis
Witnesses: W.P. Webster and William Standish.[18]

10. Conveyance date: 22 November 1852; recorded 10 January 1853
Basheba Woodward of Springfield, Sullivan Co., NH, to Silas Rolins, also of Springfield.for consideration of $100
Description: A certain piece or parcel of land situated in Boscawen Merrimack County and State aforesaid and containing one acre by measure and bounded as follows viz Beginning at the north east corner of a piece of land deeded to Kimball Woodward by Samuel D. Couch it being a part of the Enoch Elliot farm so called laying on the west side of the road leading from the 4th N.N. Turnpike so called in Salisbury to pleasant Street in Boscawen thence on said road Southerly twenty rods thence Easterly eight rods thence northerly twenty rods on a parallel line with the aforesaid road, thence Easterly eight rods to the first mentioned bound containing one hundred and sixty square rods or one acre as aforesaid
Signed: Basheba Woodward
Witnesses: Daniel N. Adams and Moses N. Loverin[19]

Future Research:

Determine the birth place of Daniel S. Woodward.
Was he born in Oldfield, Maine[20] (or elsewhere in Maine[21]); in Springfield, New Hampshire (or elsewhere in New Hampshire[22]); or was he born in Vermont?[23]

Search for the distribution of the estate of Dorcas (Adams) Woodward and from whence she gained her real property.

[1] Daniel S. Woodward named his parents as Jesse Woodward born in Plaistow, New Hampshire, and Bashabe Stevens, born in Springfield, New Hampshire [Marriage Return of Daniel S. Woodward and Lucy (Spaulding) Staples [his second marriage], New Hampshire Department of Vital Records and Statistics, Hazen Road, Concord, New Hampshire.]

[2] Salisbury, New Hampshire, Town Records, 1797–1845: 54; Family History Library microfilm 16,503.

[5] The death year inscribed for Dorcas on the Woodward tombstone in Franklin Cemetery is 1796.

[6] Family tradition relayed by Douglas Woodward, great-grandson of the Dorcas (Adams) Woodward, on 29 September 1991, to Linda Woodward Geiger and tombstone of Daniel S. Woodward and family members, Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, New Hampshire, photographed by Linda Woodward Geiger, 29 September 1991.

[14] Merrimack County, New Hampshire, Deed Book 65: 228; Family History Library microfilm #16,112.

[15] Merrimack County, New Hampshire, Deed Book 76: 188; Family History Library microfilm #16,149.

[16] Merrimack County, New Hampshire, Deed Book 83: 190; Merrimack County Clerk’s Office, Concord, New Hampshire.

[17] Merrimack County, New Hampshire, Deed Book 94: 48; Family History Library microfilm #16,158.

[18] Merrimack County, New Hampshire, Deed Book 98: 429; Merrimack County Clerk’s Office, Concord, New Hampshire.

[19] Merrimack County, New Hampshire, Deed Book 115: 36; Merrimack County Clerk’s Office, Concord, New Hampshire.

[20] Delayed Marriage Record of Daniel R. Woodward and Laura Davis, recorded in Franklin, New Hampshire, 19 October 1910, New Hampshire Department of Vital Records and Statistics, Hazen Road, Concord, New Hampshire.